Birding, Nature & Wildlife from East to Western Bhutan

Birding, Nature & Wildlife from East to Western Bhutan

Discover quaint eastern regions, core birding habitats,remote villages, nature and wildlife.

Trip Overview

cultural_tour Duration 18 Days
Easy Trip Level Easy
wildlife_bird_&_nature Trip Type Wildlife Bird & Nature
Activities Included Activities Included
Activities Included Wildlife Bird & Nature Activities Included Deluxe Camping
best Best Months March, April, October, November

best Good Months January, February, May, December

best Lean Months June, July, August, September

accommodations Accommodation 3 to 4* tourist standard hotel throughout except in Ura and Tingtibi, where only simple homestay/Guest house is available. Wind Horse also offer option to camp along the way in Lungta Comfort tents with decent bedding and your own personal chef.
meals Meals Full Board.
seasons Best Seasons Best time is from November - April. Although it can get cold in Dec and Jan in Central & western Bhutan. But its also the time for wintering of migratory birds. Spring (March -May) is the mating season for birds, when they exhibit change in colour to attract mate and also some distinct bird call. Toward late april, it tend to get hot and humid in eastern Bhutan, followed by wet monsoon from june till September.

Trip Highlights

    • Explore broad spectrum of birding habitats with rare, exotic, migratory, resident and endemic birds.
    • Short and moderate day  hike to visit remote villages
    • Meet and interact with locals
    • Seemingly endless pristine flora and some wild life.
    • Visit prominent cultural attraction and sights yet without overdoing it.
    • Insights into unique and unaffected culture and tradition.

Trip Description

Starting in eastern Bhutan exposes you immediately to the quaint ambience, and least visited areas of Bhutan. Semi tropical climate of eastern and Southern Bhutan provide ideal conditions for thriving birdlife. Discover some of best birding habitats and some rare birds in these regions. As the trip progresses, it passes  through sub tropical zone upstaged setting into temperate, along the way, encompassing a few  high mountain passes – which has bird endemic to the region. Even if you miss your target birds in one pass, it will be waiting to be found in next. In this broad spectrum of birding habitats, it’s very much likely to come across more than 400 species out of 680 species recorded, and a few from the  22  endangered birds  list.

At the backdrop of birding in pristine nature are the relatively unaffected culture and tradition. Explore some remote villages along the way. Medieval Dzongs and monasteries and other mainstay attractions. Interact with locales to have first hand info about the birds in local context and more.

Outline Itinerary

Day 1: Guwahati to Samdrup Jongkhar (250m/105 km/3 hours/)
Bhutanese Guide will meet at the Guwahati airport in Assam state.

Day 2: Samdrup Jongkhar – Deothang – Wamrong (2150m/ 100km/4hours )

Day 3: Drive to Trashigang (1100 m/ 85km/3-4 hr)

Day 4: Trashigang to Mongar (1650 m/91 km/3-4 hr)

Day 5: Mongar – Yongkola (1600m/ about 50km/2 hrs)

Day 6: Yongkoka – Sengor – Ura (3200m/around 90km/5hrs drive)

Day 7 & 8: In Bumthang
48km/1.5hrs drive from Ura and spend the two nights here.

Day 9: Jakar-Trongsa (68km/2.5hrs drive)

Day 10 & 11: Zhemgang (1900m) & Tingtibi area (600m)

Day 12: Gelephu (110km/3-hrs . 250m)

Day 13 : Gelephu-Tsirang (800m)-Wangdue/Punakha (1250m)
Approx. 190km/5-6hrs

Day 14: In Punakha Valley

Day 15: Punakha-Thimphu (2300m/75 km/3-4hrs)

Day 16: Thimphu to Paro and tour (2200m/54 km/1hr drive )

Day 17: Paro (Hike to Takstang)

Day 18: Departure

 

Included

    • Bhutan Tourists fees & taxes (SDF)
    • Visa & visa fees
    • Accommodations in comfortable 3-4star hotels (except in Tingtibi & Ura where it is basic Guest House)
    • All meals
    • All land transfers by private 4wd vehicle
    • Sightseeing with entrance fees.
    • Experienced English birding guide
    • Bottled water in the vehicle and other comp. services.

Not included

    • Flights into and out of Bhutan
      Optional Travel/Medical Insurance
      Personal expenses such as bars, beverages in the hotel, telephone, laundry, tips, and others.